Sept. 2, 2007
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The No. 23 Ohio volleyball team's recent run against nationally-ranked opponents came to an end Sunday afternoon, as No. 2 Stanford defeated the Bobcats 3-0 (30-15, 30-25, 30-23), in the final match of the Diet Coke Classic, played at the Sports Pavilion. The Bobcats (4-1) upset No. 9 Minnesota on Friday and then topped No. 12 San Diego on Saturday in consecutive five-game matches, leaving little in the tank for perennial power Stanford (4-0).
Sophomore outside hitter Ellen Herman (Toledo, Ohio) once again paced Ohio with a team-high 12 kills and three digs, en route to being named to the Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Team. Herman finished the tournament with 61 kills, 24 digs and seven blocks. Senior Stephanie Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) joined Herman on the all-tournament team, after recording a team-high 19 digs and three assists in her second full match at libero for the Bobcats. Ohio sophomore Jane Sytsma (Madison, Wis.) finished with six kills and a .238 hitting percentage, to go with three blocks and two digs in the match, while freshman setter Michelle Jantsch (Mission Hills, Kansas) had 13 assists, seven digs, two blocks and two kills, playing in her second match as a Bobcat.
In the first game Ohio was held to a -.067 hitting percentage, compared to Stanford's .375. The Bobcats fell behind 9-3 and trailed 13-8, but Stanford used a 13-3 run to push the advantage to 26-11 and went on to win 30-15.
Ohio played point for point with last year's national runner-up for nearly the entire second game, but a late Stanford rally gave the Cardinal the 30-25 victory. Each team exchanged points, with neither gaining more than a two point advantage for the first 36 points of the game. Stanford scored three straight points to break a 17-17 tie and finally gain some separation, but Ohio trimmed the lead to two at 25-23. The Cardinal ended the Bobcats' comeback hopes, scoring five of the final seven points to take game two, 30-25
Ohio stayed close to begin the third game, but Stanford used a 10-2 run to open the game up with a 14-5 lead. The Bobcats responded with a 7-2 run, capped by kills from senior middle blocker Melissa Griffin (Whitehall, Mich.) and Herman, cutting Stanford's lead to 17-12. Stanford ended the spurt by scoring the next four points however, and the Bobcats would get no closer, losing the final game, 30-23.
Along with Herman and Blackburn, the Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Team also included Stanford's Alix Klineman and Foluke Akinradewo and Minnesota's Jessy Jones and Brook Dieter. Stanford's Cynthia Barboza was named the tournament MVP for her play over the weekend. The Bobcats continue on the road next weekend in the Shamrock Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame. Ohio will play Alabama on Friday, Sep. 7, College of Charleston Saturday, Sep. 8 and Notre Dame in the final match, Sunday, Sep. 9.
Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Team
Alix Klineman - Stanford
Foluke Akinradewo - Stanford
Ellen Herman - Ohio University
Stephanie Blackburn - Ohio University
Jessy Jones - Minnesota
Brook Dieter - Minnesota
MVP - Cynthia Barboza - Stanford
